Automatic nailing machine

ABSTRACT

The structure of the present invention incorporates a fixture for holding a pair of wood component parts positioned for joining under a nail-driving ram. A continuous strip of nails feeds nails to a position under the ram which then drives a single nail into the two parts to form a mitertight locking connection.

United States Patent inventor Lane Jasper 165 North Catalina Avenue,Pasadena, Calif. 91106 Appl. No. 847,173 Filed Aug. 4, 1969 PatentedAug. 3, 1971 AUTOMATIC NAILING MACHINE 14 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 227/95, 227/148 Int. CL B27! 1/12 Field of Search 227/95, 120,148

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,240,455 4/1941 Carlile227/95 2,765,468 10/1956 Cootes et al. 227/112 UX 2,900,638 8/1959O'Kelley 227/120 2,947,990 8/1960 OKelley 227195 2,903,699 9/1959Mazzola 227/148 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney-C.Lauren Maltby ABSTRACT: The structure of the present inventionincorporates a fixture for holding a pair of wood component partspositioned for joining under a nail-driving ram. A continuous strip ofnails feeds nails to a position under the ram which then drives a singlenail into the two parts to form a mitertight locking connection.

Patented Aug. 3, 1971 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Aug. 3, 1971 6Sheets-Sheet 2 .zwvs/wae LEM/E QIYSPEQ Patented Aug. 3, 1971 6Sheets-Sheet 5 M 1 mm w m Mm Ji in Patented Aug. 3, 1971 3,597,142

6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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AUTOMATIC NAILING MACHINE The general purpose and objective of theinvention is to provide an efficient production machine for nailingtogether the mating mitered ends ofa pair of wood component parts orsimilar members.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novelnail-feeding unit wherein the nails are supplied from a continuous stripand severally separated therefrom for the nailing operation.

Other objects of the invention will appear and be brought out more fullyin the following specification, reference being had to accompanyingdrawings, wherein,

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the nail-feeding and nail-drivingmechanism part of the machine.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIGv 5 is the side elevation view of the parts shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is an elevation view of the nail-driving mechanism showing a nailbeing driven into members being joined and a following nail being brokenoff from the strip and positioned for nailing.

FIG. 10 is a view of the same showing a nail in final position joiningthe frame members together and a following nail in position for asucceeding nailing operation.

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view showing saw-cut slits in the endsof two pieces to be joined and to receive a nail.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view ofa portion of the nail-feeding strip fromwhich the nails are fed into the nail-breaker block adjacent to thenail-driver bar.

FIG. 13 is the sectional view of the nail as seen on line 13-13 of FIG.12.

FIG. 14 is a plain view of the component part supporting fixture as seenfrom line 14-14 ofFIG. 15.

FIG. 15 is an elevation view of the same.

FIG. 16 is a partial view as seen from the line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of the power actuating system of theinvention.

Now referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the present invention is incorporatedin a frame structure 10 on which are mounted a nail injector slide 11, anail-feeder slide at 12, an air cylinder 13 and a picture-frame membersupporting structure 14. (see FIGS. 14 to 16.)

A nail-transfer plate 15 is secured on injector slide 11 and nail-feederslide 12 is secured on transfer plate 15 and a plastic cover plate 16 issecured on transfer plate 15.

Nail injector slide 11 is formed with a groove 17 which forms a guidewayfor a driver bar 18, which driver bar is secured to a ram 20 which isslideable in a groove 21 in injector slide 11. A connecting block 22 issecured on top of ram 20 and in turn is secured to the piston rod 23 ofair cylinder 13. Ram 20 is formed with a groove in which a breaker block24 is secured, the breaker block in turn having a recess to receive theupper end of a breaker plate 25. A nail-driver tip 26 is secured byscrews to the lower end of driver bar 18 so as to be replaceable whennecessary.

A breaker ram limit switch actuator 27 is secured on breaker bar 243 andhas a slot 28 through which the mounting screws 30 extend by which theswitch actuator is adapted to be the adjustably position vertically aswill be more fully explained hereinafter. A button head screw 31 extendslaterally from actuator 27. Feeder slide 12 is formed with a pair ofslots 32 and 33 and is also formed with a pair of grooves 34 to receivethe flanges 35 of the nails 36 of FIG. 12. As will be clear from FIG. 12nails 36 are formed from a continuous strip which is weakened at theends of each nail to permit the nails to be broken off during theoperation of the machine and to be dropped below the driver bar anddriver ram.

The nail feed system best seen in FIGS. 2, and 4-8 includes a nailfeeder block 37 is slideable along feeder slide 12 and has a lateralextension 38 that extends through slot 32 and a second extension 40which extends through slot 33, the feeder block being held by a backupplate 41 which is secured to the feeder block by screws. Feeder block 37is formed with a recess in which is positioned a feeder dog 42 which ispivotally mounted in the recess and is spring seated whereby the dogratchets along the nails after advance movement thereof by the dog. Ablock 42a is secured on slide 12 by a pair of screws 42b. A screw 42cextends into hole 42d in the slide and retains a spring-seated ball 42ethat presses each nail against block 42a as the nail moves into positionunder the block.

A feeder limit switch actuator 43 is formed with an elongated slot 44and is secured on feeder block 36 by a pair of screws 45 which extendsthrough the slot, thus permitting longitudinal adjustment of the limitswitch actuator when necessary for limiting the stroke of the nailfeeding strip when different length of nails are being used therein.Feeder block 37 is advanced and retracted by a piston rod 47, actuatedby an air cylinder 48 which is mounted on the side of feeder slide 12. Abackstop block 50 is secured on feeder slide 12 as by screws 51 whichextends through a slot 52 in the block by which arrangement the block isadjustable when nails of different length are being used. Block 50 has arecess in which a springseated dog 53 is pivotedly secured to limitretrograde movement of the nailing strip when the feeder block 37 isbeing retracted. Forward and rear stop blocks 54 and 55 respectively aresecured in slot 32 and adjustably positioned to limit the forward andreverse strokes of the feeder block 37.

As best seen in FIG. 3 the injector slide groove 17 is covered by acover 56 and a wire spring 57 is carried by the cover and extends intogroove 17 upon which the nail rests in position to be driven into theworkpieces. Transfer plate 15 is formed with a shallow recess 58 intowhich the separated nail from the strip drops and is guided by thecurved portion of the recess into groove 17 ofinjector slide.

Now referring to FIGS. 14-16 component part supporting structure 14comprises a base block 60 which supports a plate 61 which is movablymounted for movement forwardly and rearwardly by a screw 62 having ahandwheel 63 thereon. Block 60 is supported on an elevating tube 64 bywhich the fixture may be lowered and raised as desired. Plate 61 iswelded on a cylinder 61a which is slidable on block 60 by hand wheel 63and rotatable on the block. A pair of side plates 60a are secured onblock 60 and formed with slots 60b through which lock bolts 60c extendfor locking the fixture against rotation. This locking is furtherprovided by a pair of bars 61b pivoted and locked on block 60 by bolts61c and having slots 61d through which lock bolts 610 on plate 61 aremounted. A pair of small plates 65 are swivel mounted on plate 61 bypins 67 and each plate 65 is formed with an arcuate groove 66, throughwhich a lock screw 68 extends for locking the plates in variable angularpositions. A block 70 is welded on each plate 65 and pivotally secures asupporting member 71, as by a pivot bolt 72. Each member 71 is formedwith an arcuate slot 73 through which a lock bolts 74 extends, wherebyangle members 71 may be. tilted to several positions. A side plate 75 issecured to each supporting member 71 against which the side portion ofthe component part to be joined is rested.

FIG. 11 shows a pair of component parts 76 which are to be joined by thenailing operation of this machine, the figure showing saw cuts 77 intowhich the nails are driven as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The operation of the invention should be apparent from the foregoingdescription.

FIG. I shows the relation of the parts prior to the start of a nailingoperation. The nail driving and nail advancing and retracting actionsare operated from the air cylinder 13 and 48 in a pneumatic system shownin FIG. 17 under the control of a pedal switch 80. Upon the initialactuation of ram 20, a nail is broken away from the strip by thedownward movement of breaker plate 25, as shown in FIG. 9, and the naildrops to the upper nail position in the nail-transfer plate 15. Upon theupward stroke of the ram 20 the feeder block 37 will be retractedcarrying feeder dog 42 past the forwardmost nail in nail-feeder slide12, the strip of nails being held in position by backstop dog 53 inpreparation for the next nailing operation.

FIGS. 9 and show initial and final positions of the nail being driveninto slots 77 of the wood component parts 76, and it will be understoodthat the nails are slightly tapered from the forward or leading edgethereof, such that the taper of flanges 35 will draw the component partsinto a mitertight locking joint. The retraction stroke of the feederblock is controlled by button 46 on a limit switch actuator 43, and thelength of this stroke as well as the forward stroke is controlled by thespacing of stop blocks 54 and 55, which spacing may be altered toaccommodate to nails of different lengths. if a change in the stroke ismade, a corresponding change is made in the position of limit switchactuator 43 in its position on the feeder block. In a similar mannerbutton head screw 31 on breaker ram limit switch actuator 27 controlsthe valve for the pneumatic actuation of the ram by cylinder 13, and thestroke of the ram can be varied by shifting the position of actuator 27on breaker block 24.

FIG. 17 shows a schematic diagram of the power actuating system of theinvention. Air under pressure is supplied from a physical source of 79and the actuation is under the control of a control pedal switch 80. Apair of spool valves 81 and 82 reverse the direction of airflow intodrive cylinder 13 and feeds cylinder 48 as indicated by the flow linesin the diagram.

When pedal switch 80 is actuated it will cause line 91 to release thepressure which holds the lapped spool in a left position in valve 81 andpermits the lapped spool to shift to the right position in the valve andexhausts line 92 through port hole 83 and applies pressure in line 93which forces the piston rod 47 in feeder cylinder 48 to advance in aforward position until it comes in contact with bleeder button 46.

Bleeder button 46 releases the pressure in line 94 which permits thelapped spool in valve 81 to shift to the left position and release theline pressure in line 93 which exhausts through porthole 98 and appliesline pressure in line 92, forcing the piston rod 47 to return to theoriginal position in feeder cylinder 48 and permits the lapped spool invalve 82 to shift to the left position and exhausting line 95 throughporthole 99 and applies line pressure in line 96 to force the piston rod23 to advance forward in drive cylinder 13. When piston rod 23 comes incontact with bleeder button 31 it causes line 97 to release the pressurein valve 82 and permits the lapped spool to shift to the right positionand to exhaust line 96 through porthole 100 and applies pressure in line95 which returns the piston rod 23 onto the original position. Ametering cylinder 84 is shown having a piston connected to piston rod23, and an accumulator 85, together with a metering valve 86 areprovided whereby the movement of piston 23 may be kept steady and variedas desired.

It should be clear from the foregoing description that the NailingMachine of this invention is capable of and adapted for the driving ofindividually hand-fed nails. When it is so operated, slide 12 andguillotine 25 are removed and the individual nails can be dropped intoslot 21. The ram is then actuated by the air system as previouslyexplained withthe automatic operation.

What i claim is:

1. An automatic nailing machine comprising in combination;

a. a main frame;

b. a component part supporting fixture on said frame;

c. a nail-injector head mounted to said main frame above said componentpart supporting structure;

d. a nail-feeder slide for feeding nails to said nail-injector head;

e. a magazine for holding a continuous strip of nails;

. means above the said nail-injector head for separating a nail fromsaid strip and dropping it into said nail-injector head;

g. said separating and dropping means including a body portion defininga passageway extending generally vertically with a sufficient transversedirection to allow a separated nail to travel from the point ofseparation of nails to said nail-injector head in position to be driven;

h. a nail-driver ram above said nail-injector head in line with theportion of said passageway at said nail-injector head whereby said ramcan enter said passageway and advance a nail therein; and

i. a source of power for actuating said ram.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said source of power is fluidactuating.

3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said fixture is tiltable andshiftable both vertically and horizontally.

4. Structure according to claim 1 including means for varying the amountof advance of said nailing strip.

5. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said nail separating means iscoactuable with said ram.

6. An automatic nailing machine comprising;

a. A frame;

b. a workpiece support designed to hold a pair of kerfed members injuxtaposition for nailing by the machine;

c. a nail-injector head positioned to inject nails into kerfed memberson the adjacent workpiece support;

d. means for actuating the nail injector;

e. a magazine for holding a strip of nails;

f. actuator means for advancing the strip nail to the region adjacent tothe nail injector;

g. said nail injector including a passage for transmission of severednails to the region of the kerfed member to be nailed;

h. said nail injector also including a guillotine member for strikingthe outermost nail of the nail strip to sever it and said nail injectorfurther including a ram for driving the severed nail in the passagewayinto the kerfed member.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said ram andguillotine members are mounted for simultaneous actuation by the powersource.

8. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said nail feederincludes a stop for limiting the advance of the nail strip to one naillength upon each actuation.

9. The combination in accordance with claim 8 wherein said stop isadjustable whereby the machine adapts to different length of nails.

10. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein the actuatormeans for the nail injector and the nail feeder are synchronous forsequential operation.

11. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said nailinjector includes an elongated passage for conveying severed nailsincluding an enlarged upper region for the reception of the end nail ofa strip in which the guillotine member when actuated strikes and seversthe outermost nail of the strip.

12. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein the actuator forthe nail injector and nail feeder are fluid power actuated including avalve means for said actuators operatively connected to actuate one ofsaid actuators while returning the second whereby the nail feeder andnail actuator are operated in alternate sequence.

13. A nailing machine, comprising in combination;

a. a main frame;

b. a component part supporting fixture on said frame;

c. a nail-injector head mounted to said main frame above said componentpart supporting fixture;

cl. a nail-driver ram above said nail injector head;

e. means for shifting said component part supporting fixture in avertical direction;

f. a source of power for actuating said ram;

g. said injector head including a top opening and a substantiallyvertical passage therethrough to a nail-insertion position whereby nailsintroduced into said top opening travel under gravitational force to anail-insertion position; and

A nail-driver ram above said nail-injector head; Said passage includingsufficient lateral direction to advance a nail to a position in linewith said nail-driver ram; Said nail-driver ram positioned to travelalong said passage to advance a nail therethrough and into a componentpart supporting fixture. Means for shifting said component partsupporting fixture in a direction along the line of travel of saidnail-driver ram to vary the effective nail-driving stroke.

1. An automatic nailing machine comprising in combination; a. a mainframe; b. a component part supporting fixture on said frame; c. anail-injector head mounted to said main frame above said component partsupporting structure; d. a nail-feeder slide for feeding nails to saidnail-injector head; e. a magazine for holding a continuous strip ofnails; f. means above the said nail-injector head for separating a nailfrom said strip and dropping it into said nail-injector head; g. saidseparating and dropping means including a body portion defining apassageway extending generally vertically with a sufficient transversedirection to allow a separated nail to travel from the point ofseparation of nails to said nailinjector head in position to be driven;h. a nail-driver ram above said nail-injector head in line with theportion of said passageway at said nail-injector head whereby said ramcan enter said passageway and advance a nail therein; and i. a source ofpower for actuating said ram.
 2. Structure according to claim 1 whereinsaid source of power is fluid actuating.
 3. Structure according to claim1 wherein said fixture is tiltable and shiftable both vertically andhorizontally.
 4. Structure according to claim 1 including means forvarying the amount of advance of said nailing strip.
 5. Structureaccording to claim 1 wherein said nail separating means is coactuablewith said ram.
 6. An automatic nailing machine comprising: a. A frame;b. a workpiece support designed to hold a pair of kerfed members injuxtaposition for nailing by the machine; c. a nail-injector headpositioned to inject nails into kerfed members on the adjacent workpiecesupport; d. means for actuating the nail injector; e. a magazine forholding a strip of nails; f. actuator means for advancing the strip nailto the region adjacent to the nail injector; g. said nail injectorincluding a passage for transmission of severed nails to the region ofthe kerfed member to be nailed; h. said nail injector also including aguillotine member for striking the outermost nail of the nail strip tosever it and said nail injector further including a ram for driving thesevered nail in the passageway into the kerfed member.
 7. Thecombination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said ram and guillotinemembers are mounted for simultaneous actuation by the power source. 8.The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said nail feederincludes a stop for limiting the advance of the nail strip to one naillength upon each actuation.
 9. The combination in accordance with claim8 wherein said stop is adjustable whereby the machine adapts todifferent length of nails.
 10. The combination in accordance with claim6 wherein the actuator means for the nail injector and the nail feederare synchronous for sequential operation.
 11. The combination inaccordance with claim 6 wherein said nail injector includes an elongatedpassage for conveying severed nails including an enlarged upper regionfor the reception of the end nail of a strip in which the guillotinemember when actuated strikes and severs the outermost naiL of the strip.12. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein the actuator forthe nail injector and nail feeder are fluid power actuated including avalve means for said actuators operatively connected to actuate one ofsaid actuators while returning the second whereby the nail feeder andnail actuator are operated in alternate sequence.
 13. A nailing machine,comprising in combination; a. a main frame; b. a component partsupporting fixture on said frame; c. a nail-injector head mounted tosaid main frame above said component part supporting fixture; d. anail-driver ram above said nail injector head; e. means for shiftingsaid component part supporting fixture in a vertical direction; f. asource of power for actuating said ram; g. said injector head includinga top opening and a substantially vertical passage therethrough to anail-insertion position whereby nails introduced into said top openingtravel under gravitational force to a nail-insertion position; and h.means for holding a nail in said insertion position below and in analignment with said driver ram.
 14. A nailing machine comprising incombination a main frame; A component part supporting fixture on saidframe; A nail-injector head on said frame above said fixture; Saidnail-injector head including top opening to receive a nail and agenerally vertical passage communicative with said opening fordelivering a nail into a component part supported by said fixture; Anail-driver ram above said nail-injector head; Said passage includingsufficient lateral direction to advance a nail to a position in linewith said nail-driver ram; Said nail-driver ram positioned to travelalong said passage to advance a nail therethrough and into a componentpart supporting fixture. Means for shifting said component partsupporting fixture in a direction along the line of travel of saidnail-driver ram to vary the effective nail-driving stroke.